Modifiable Factors for the Length of Life with Disability before Death: Mortality Retrospective Study in Japan

Vol. 51, No. 3, 2005

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Clinical Section

Modifiable Factors for the Length of Life with Disability before Death: Mortality Retrospective Study in Japan
Kaori Ohmori, Shinichi Kuriyama, Atsushi Hozawa, Takayoshi Ohkubo, Yoshitaka Tsubono, Ichiro Tsuji

Division of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Forensic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan

Address of Corresponding Author

Gerontology 2005;51:186-191 (DOI: 10.1159/000083992)

Key Words

Disability
Lifestyles
Compression of morbidity
Elderly

Abstract

Background: Past studies have measured and described the length of life with disability before death, but there has been no study of the relationship between modifiable lifestyle factors and duration of disability. Objective: To examine whether there are modifiable factors influencing the length of life with disability before death. Methods: The study was designed asa retrospective observation of the deceased who had earlier been enrolled in a prospective cohort study.During the follow-up period (1996-1999), we documented 781 deaths among those who were 70-79 years of age at the baseline survey in 1994 (n = 10,216). In 2000, we interviewed family members of the deceased about the duration of the subjects' disability before death (n = 655). Results: The median duration of disability before death was approximately 6 months. Both higher Body Mass Index (BMI) and shorter time spent walking were significantly associated with an increased risk of long-term disability (more than 6 months). The odds ratios of long-term disability were 1.3 in those with BMI 20-25 and 2.1 in those with BMI >25, compared with BMI <20. The odds ratios of long-term disability were 1.3 in those walking for 0.5-0.9 h/day and 1.7 in those walking for <0.5 h/day, compared with those walking for >1.0 h/day. These relationships were unchanged after stratification for causes of death. Conclusion: Weight control and walking in later life may shorten the length of life with disability before death.

Author Contacts

Kaori Ohmori, MD
Division of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Forensic Medicine
Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku
Sendai, 980-8575 (Japan)
Tel. +81 22 717 8123, Fax +81 22 717 8125, E-Mail ohmori-k@umin.ac.jp

Article Information

Received: June 18, 2004
Accepted: August 19, 2004
Number of Print Pages : 6
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 18

Medline Abstract (ID 15832046)

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